BNP demands unconditional release of nabbed teacher charged with derogatory comment on Tarique Rahaman

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, December 28, 2025

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), main opposition in Bangladesh politics over the past fifteen years now considered as the natural successor to power in the absence of banned Awami League, seems to be positioning itself as a democratic and reasonable force in the run-up to the next elections on February 12. As part of this the BNP joint general secretary Ruhul Kavir Rizvi who earned considerable notoriety last year by claiming states of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa , has issued a statement seeking immediate and unconditional release of a teacher nabbed yesterday by Dhaka metropolitan police for derogatory comments on Tarique Rahaman in the wake of visit to pay respect to the grave of slain militant fundamentalist Shahid Osman Hadi .

AKM Shahidul Islam , vice principal of Gabotli technical training centre near Dhaka, was attending a sit-in programme of the fundamentalist ‘Inquilab Manch’ in Shahbag area of Dhaka to demand immediate arrest of Hadi’s killers . It was here that he had made derogatory comments on BNP supremo Tariqe Rahaman on the occasion of his visit to Hadi’s tomb ,mocking his visit. The matter was reported and the police took him into custody.

But the BNP leadership did not take kindly to this peremptory arrest. “In any democracy people have the fundamental right to freedom of choice and expression and this can not be curbed at will by the state ; any person or institution affected by comments can filed a defamation suit in court but such high-handed police action against such democratic and fundamental right to expression can not be acceptable in the new Bangladesh that we wish to build; vice principal AKM Shahidul Islam must be released unconditionally and immediately to uphold his rights” said Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Sources said that having suffered so long under Awami League’s rue the BNP is now trying to project a democractic , liberal and progressive face with an eye to the election but their stand has been welcomed by large sections of people.

more news...